Bethel Library to celebrate centennial

Published 3:25 pm, Monday, July 7, 2014

BETHEL -- Bethel Library will celebrate the centennial of the Seelye House, a staple of Bethel's history, on July 12. Visitors will be able to view and have guided tours of the renovated house.

The Seelye House was left to the library in 1914, after the death of Hannah Seelye. Her father, Seth Seelye, was the first mayor of Bethel and the original owner of the house.

Lynn Rosato, library director, said the Seelye House originally gave the library a home. The main floor used to hold the stacks of books and circulation desk. After renovations in 2013, it has become the History Room, which has been restored to look like the original main floor in the 1915 library.

"A lot of people remember the downstairs being the main library," said Rosato. "So I'm hoping people will come into the room and see the renovations that have gone on in the building."

The Seelye House was closed during renovations in 2005. The History Room is now open to the public as a quiet place to work and study.